The following is borrowed from the March 1998,
edition of the
Seedstock Edge, the official publication
of the National Swine Registry. It helps “bring home” the message about ethics
in our youth livestock programs.

The past
and recent news out of Washington D.C. regarding activities regarding our
elected leadership, has really disturbed me, and has caused me to once again
question the attitude toward integrity an morality in our nation today.
Unfortunately, elements of this total disregard of ‘doing the right thing’ has
trickled down throughout all phases of society, including animal agriculture.
While everyone is searching for someone to blame, I truly believe it all begins
in the home, and the youth programs we impact through the swine industry are an
excellent place to begin. At a recent meeting of the National Livestock Ethics
Council, the following six core values were discussed as vital elements of a
successful youth livestock program. They include: (1) Trustworthiness, (2)
Respect, (3) Responsibility, (4) Fairness, (5) Caring and (6) Citizenship

Years ago
I printed the following article written by Larry Mrozinski, a friend of mine in
the sheep industry. While the references are to lambs instead of pigs, the
message is just as appropriate and it remains the most powerful message I’ve
ever seen written of the subject. Please read it, think about it, and share it
with those around you that are involved in working with our greatest
resource—our youth! Our entire industry is based on integrity and it we lose
that, we’ve lost our industry!

When Tommy was 8 years old,
his father registered a lamb corn December 24 as being born January 2. His
father said to Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 9 years old,
his father bred the family’s flock of purebred ewes with a ram of another breed
and registered the lambs as purebreds. His father said to Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid,
everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 10 years old,
his 4-H leader and county agent tagged and weighed newly purchased lambs a month
after the ownership deadline. They both told him, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does
it.”

When Tommy was 11 years old,
his parents bought him a registered ewe lamb to show at the county fair and
changed the ear tag to their own flock tag. They both told him, “It’s O.K. kid,
everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 12 years old,
his grandparents bought him a show lamb and left it with the breeder who fed and
fit the lamb until the day before the county fair. The breeder and his
grandparents said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 13 years old,
his veterinarian issued health papers for sheep he never inspected and that had
foot rot and lamb fungus. He said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 14 years old,
his neighbor used an electric animal prod on his lambs to get them to brace. He
told Tommy. “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 15 years old
and after winning Grand Champion Market
Lamb at the county fair, he saw his dad having a beer with the judge and paying
the judge $200.00 for making his son’s lamb Champion. The judge and his father
said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 17 years old,
his uncle used Lasix on his market lamb at the state fair to make it weigh into
a lighter class. His uncle told Tommy, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 18 years old,
his older brother pumped the loin of his lamb a national sheep show. His brother
said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 19 years old,
his entire family was aware of the clenbuterol being given to his market lambs.
They both told him, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody does it.”

When Tommy was 20 years old,
a friend offered him some cocaine. His friend said, “It’s O.K. kid, everybody
does it.”

When Tommy was arrested
later that night for using cocaine and
called his family to ask them to bail him out of jail. They told him, “How could
you have bought such a disgrace to your family, you never learned any of this at
home, where did you go wrong?” After hearing of his arrest, Tommy’s 4-H leader,
FFA advisor, county agent, grandparents, uncle, veterinarian and neighbors were
also shocked.

If there is one thing the adult world can’t
stand, it’s a kid that breaks the rules...

Personal
By Line:

I think this is still as important today as it
was in the past. C. Sherman Allen,